Shen Qiqi and Lu Qing arrived at the market. There were bustling crowds, a dazzling array of goods, hawking sounds, and bargaining sounds one after another, making it extremely lively.
The air was filled with the aroma of various foods, mixed with the scent of soil and herbs, which all penetrated into Shen Qiqi's nostrils.
She took a deep breath and felt that this place, full of the flavor of life, was much more interesting than any high-end shopping mall she had ever visited.
Shen Qiqi looked around excitedly, looking for a suitable stall.
Each of her carefully crafted embroidery pieces is exquisite and lifelike, as if they were alive, shining brightly in the sun.
She believed that as long as she found a good location, these treasures would be able to sell for a good price.
However, reality gave her a heavy blow.
The good spots in the market have already been taken, leaving only some remote corners.
Looking at the prime locations where people were coming and going, Shen Qiqi felt lost, like a deflated ball.
Just then, a burly man with a face full of flesh came over with a few of his younger brothers.
He was wearing a dirty sweatshirt, torn jeans, and flip-flops, looking like a cockroach that had just crawled out of a garbage dump.
Shen Qiqi recognized it at a glance. This was the "Qian Dihu" that her neighbor Aunt Wang mentioned.
Qian Dipi walked up to Shen Qiqi, crossed his arms, pointed his nose at her, and asked arrogantly: "New here? Don't you know the rules? This territory is mine!" His voice was rough and hoarse, as harsh as sandpaper rubbing against glass, and Shen Qiqi got goose bumps all over the floor.
Shen Qiqi was startled, and nervousness surged like a tide, but she quickly calmed down, with a faint smile on her face.
"Big brother," Shen Qiqi called sweetly, her voice as gentle as a child, "you are..."
Qian Dipi interrupted her impatiently: "Stop talking nonsense! Pay the protection fee! Ten dollars!" Shen Qiqi secretly calculated how to deal with this sudden difficulty.
She shook her head gently, her tone gentle but firm: "My dear brother, you are mistaken. I just came to the market today. I haven't started selling anything yet, and I don't have any money with me. Look, I haven't even set up this stall yet. I'm really sorry."
Qian Dipi's arrogance seemed to be temporarily suppressed by Shen Qiqi's gentle words. He couldn't find a suitable response for a moment, but the flesh on his face became more tense, and he looked a little exasperated.
When the younger brothers around saw that their boss' mouth was blocked, they all looked at each other and dared not to be arrogant anymore.
In a corner of the market, the surrounding stall owners secretly admired and cast admiring eyes on Shen Qiqi, quietly discussing how this new woman was so smart.
At this moment, Lu Qing held Shen Qiqi's hand tightly, his palms were slightly sweaty, and his eyes were full of worry.
Shen Qiqi felt the warmth and support he conveyed, and a sense of security surged in her heart. She smiled at him, her eyes full of gratitude.
At this moment, the warm atmosphere between the two seemed to isolate the surrounding noise, and only each other's thoughts were conveyed to each other.
Seeing this, Qian Dipi's face became even angrier. He waved his arm vigorously, breaking the brief peace: "Okay, you're lucky today because you're new here. Remember, next time you come, you can't pay a penny less for protection fees!" After that, he turned around and left with a group of younger brothers, leaving behind a cloud of dust and bumpy footprints.
Shen Qiqi breathed a sigh of relief, but did not let down her guard.
She looked up at Lu Qing, her words full of confidence, as if she had seen hope for the future.
At this moment, a figure quietly appeared behind them, staring intently at the exquisite embroidery in Shen Qiqi's hands.
Lu Qing keenly sensed something was wrong and turned around to look, only to see Sun Tongxing's eyes flickering and a sneer on his lips.
As soon as Qian Dipi left, Shen Qiqi immediately felt that the air was much fresher, and the pressure just now made her chest feel a little stuffy.
She took a deep breath and began to organize the embroidery she brought, ready to show off her skills.
At this moment, a shrill voice came from the side: "Don't miss it if you pass by! Handmade embroidery, exquisite! Sale at a bargain price!"
Shen Qiqi turned her head and saw that it was Sun Tongxing.
This guy's stall was right next to hers, and he was shouting at the top of his lungs. The embroidery he was holding was similar in style to hers, but the workmanship was obviously much cruder.
Moreover, the price is ridiculously low!
"Hey, little girl, how much are you selling your embroidery?" An aunt was attracted by Shen Qiqi's embroidery.
Just as Shen Qiqi was about to quote a price, Sun Tongxing interrupted again: "Auntie, don't be fooled by her fancy things, they are all scams! My embroidery is of high quality and low price, and it is fair to everyone! If you don't believe me, take a look!" As he said this, he handed his embroidery to the auntie, and the embroidery thread was about to fall off.
Shen Qiqi resisted the urge to roll her eyes, still maintaining a sweet smile on her face.
Sun Tongxing's actions are simply "suicidal" competition. He will drag her down with him even if it means losing money.
Jealousy can completely change a person’s character, I am not kidding you!
"Auntie, please take a closer look. My embroidery is made of high-quality materials and is meticulously crafted. It's absolutely worth the money!" Shen Qiqi picked up a purse with intricate embroidery and showed it to the auntie, "Look at the stitches, the thread, the pattern..."
The aunt took the purse, examined it carefully, and exclaimed, "It's really different! Your embroidery is much more exquisite than his!"
Shen Qiqi was secretly delighted and was about to strike while the iron was hot when she suddenly remembered that she still had a few "secret weapons" in her bag.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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